The type of cookware you use can make all the difference in determining the health of you and your family. Researchers from West Virginia University (WVU) recently found that perfluorocarbons (PFCs), an artificial chemical commonly used in non-stick cookware, can disrupt hormonal balance and lead to early menopause in women.

Published in theJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, the study contains data on 26,000 US women between 42 and 64 years old. Upon evaluation, the research team found that women with the highest blood concentrations of PFCs tended to go through menopause much earlier than women with low levels of PFCs in their blood, and that PFCs led to “significantly lower” levels of estrogen in women’s bodies.

“There is no doubt that there is an association between exposure to PFCs and onset of menopause,” said Dr. Sarah Knox, lead researcher of the study. “Part of the explanation could be that women in these age groups have higher PFC levels because they are no longer losing PFCs with menstrual blood anymore, but it is still clinically disturbing because it would imply that increased PFC exposure is the natural result of menopause.”

PFCs, which are a fluoride-containing chemical, can be found in all sorts of consumer products ranging from popcorn bags and pizza boxes to Teflon cookware and dental floss. The chemical is a linked to causing cancer, thyroid problems, liver and kidney damage, neurological disorders, and infertility (http://www.naturalnews.com/PFOA.html).

According to a recent report byFOX News, DuPont, the manufacturer of Teflon, plans to eliminate PFCs from its product line by 2015. The best bet for cooking is to use only products that are inert and non-reactive. High quality ceramic, earthenware, enamel, glass, heavy-gauge stainless steel, and cast iron cookware are all viable options to help avoid chemical leaching into food.